20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment

Overview 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback › Introductions and context › Assessment and feedback challenges › Tools to support approaches to change – Assessment for learning practices – Effective electronic management of assessment (EMA) › Examples and resources

Background and context » : A 3 year programme exploring technology-enhanced assessment and feedback » 2012: Baseline reviews of the institutional landscape » 2013: Case studies, videos and briefings » 2014: EMA landscape review » 2015: New Transforming Assessment and Feedback Guide 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback challenges » highly devolved responsibility & inconsistent practices » lack of developmental focus » traditional practices dominate » timeliness, quality and consistency of feedback » learner in passive role » lack of relevance to world of work 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Whirling Phoenix

Electronic management of assessment » Localised initiatives but beginning to scale up - e-submission, e-marking, e- feedback » System integration is a key problem area » EMA exposes variability in business processes Challenges exposed 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback “The use of technology is now a fundamental part of the support for assessment and feedback practice across the sector, but there are few examples of fully integrated approaches to supporting the whole assessment and feedback lifecycle” Jisc, 2014

Electronic management of assessment » Limited range of core technologies » Integration loose and requiring manual intervention » More HEIs say their A&F systems are ‘completely separate’ than ‘highly integrated’ Loose system integration Variation in business processes 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback » Lots of local variation » Only 12% of HEIs have ‘highly standardised’ processes » Different interpretations of policy » Variation hidden till EMA tried ‘The challenge of disjointed systems makes it challenging to monitor student progress and identify at risk students. Similarly, there is no opportunity for the students to monitor their own progress prior to final assessments.’ Jisc (2014) EMA Landscape Review

Top 20 EMA challenges 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Moving from challenge to change » Principle-led approaches to change › Moving to an ‘assessment for learning’ approach » The assessment and feedback lifecycle › Supporting the electronic management of assessment Useful tools and approaches 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Rethinking assessment practices » Evidence that assessment, rather than teaching, has a major influence on students’ learning » Increasing consensus of the importance of developing judgement and self-regulation in learners as critical skills for life and employment » But existing assessment practices often focus on the demonstration of knowledge and memory recall rather than the processes of learning » So…… are we best preparing learners for a lifetime of learning and employment? 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

A starting point for change: a principled approach » Importance of defining the purpose of assessment and feedback » Need to articulate that underpinning vision before embarking on change » Principles are a good way to articulate and operationalise this › Provide a synthesis of the research › Action oriented › Evaluation device 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback Resources Why principles? Overview of principles: feedback-principleshttp://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/ /Assessment-and- feedback-principles CC BY 2.0 Mind_scratch

REAP principles › Clarify what good performance is (goals, criteria, standards) › Facilitate the development of reflection and self-assessment in learning › Deliver high quality feedback to students: that enables them to self-correct › Encourage peer and student-teacher dialogue around learning › Encourage positive motivational beliefs & self esteem through assessment › Provide opportunities to act on feedback › Provide information to teachers that can be used to help shape their teaching (making learning visible) Nicol and Macfarlane-Dick (2006) Good assessment and feedback should: support the development of learner self-regulation 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Putting principles into practice – Viewpoints 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Putting principles into practice – Viewpoints 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Putting principles into practice, QUB 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Putting principles into practice, QUB 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Aligning technology with principles University of Exeter ‘Tech Trump’ cards 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Examples in practice » More formative opportunities » Feed forward » Ipsative approaches » Access to feedback » Assessment scheduling Supporting longitudinal development » Feedback is a ‘black box’ » Programme teams don’t discuss feedback » Useful analytical tools available The role of feedback 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Case studies » Students as partners » Enhancing employability skills » Embedding EMA » Using technology to promote feedback dialogue » Viewpoints as a catalyst for change 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback bit.ly/jisc-assess Video case study: Reconceptualising feedback Reconceptualising feedback

Moving from challenge to change » Principle-led approaches to change › Moving to an ‘assessment for learning’ approach » The assessment and feedback lifecycle › Supporting the electronic management of assessment Useful tools and approaches 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Why is EMA important? » Increased control and agency » Reduced anxiety » Improved privacy and security » Increased efficiency and convenience » Feedback which is clearer and easier to engage with, understand and store for later use 20/11/2015 “Amongst students there is very strong evidence to suggest that not only is electronic assessment management their preference, but that those who come to appreciate its attendant benefits then begin to see electronic assessment as their entitlement.” EBEAM final report Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

The assessment and feedback lifecycle 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

University of Edinburgh 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Case studies » Queen’s University, Belfast » Institute of Education (now part of UCL) » University of Hertfordshire » Keele University » Manchester Metropolitan University » Bedford College » Walsall College 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback EMA

Manchester Metropolitan University Stage 4: Submitting 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Queen’s University Belfast » Improvement in student attainment in many areas » External examiners responded positively to being able to access material in advance of exam boards » Student satisfaction has increased year on year Key benefits identified: » Timely delivery of feedback » Time savings - one school calculated 20 days of admin staff time saved 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Resources » Now available › New online guide ‘Transforming assessment and feedback with technology’ now available › Please share your feedback - » Coming soon – March 16 › Further clarity on EMA processes and system specification › An institutional self-assessment tool linking through to the guidance 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback

Find out more 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback » Guide: assessment-and-feedbackwww.jisc.ac.uk/guides/transforming- assessment-and-feedback » Baseline review eReportMay2012.pdf eReportMay2012.pdf » Landscape report available from: bit.ly/jisc-ema » Join the conversation on the blog: ema.jiscinvolve.org/ » and on twitter #jiscassess » Join the mailing list: jiscmail.ac.uk/tech-enhanced-assessment » Guides, case studies, videos and other resources on assessment and feedback: bit.ly/jisc-assess

20/11/2015 Any questions?

jisc.ac.uk Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND Find out more… Contact Lisa Gray Senior Co-Design Manager, Student Experience 20/11/2015 Technology-enhanced assessment and feedback